Aringa South MP Alioni Odria has dismissed social media claims that he has withdrawn from the race for the Speaker of the 12th Parliament, urging both Members of Parliament and the general public that there is still hope to restore credibility and democratic processes in Parliament.
The vocal Aringa South lawmaker criticised the NRM leadership for endorsing Anita Among and Thomas Tayebwa as their preferred candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, calling the decision unconstitutional and a violation of citizens’ democratic rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda.
“The pronouncement and declaration of Anita Among as Speaker and Thomas Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker is very unconstitutional, and I am requesting CEC to withdraw that declaration,” Odria said.
He emphasized that the democratic principles provided in the Constitution are clear: the state must allow all citizens to participate and contest at all levels of governance.
He demanded that the party follow due process in the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
“We expect CEC to give freedom and access for all the elected NRM members of Parliament to express interest for those two positions, be subjected to party primaries, evaluated, and the best candidates take it all,” Odria added.
A letter dated February 20th, following the resolution of the 8th NRM sitting in Entebbe, stated that, in line with precedent, the names of incumbent Speaker Anita Among and Deputy Thomas Tayebwa shall be forwarded to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus for adoption as party candidates.
The letter was signed by party president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
